Influence of different types of fertilizers application on the lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) growth and quality

Abstract

The experiment was conducted during the period from March to the end of April 2019 to observe the effect of different fertilizer regimes on the growth, quality and yield of lettuce under field conditions. The experiment was consisting of four treatments as well as a control without fertilizer T1, compost T2, compost tea T3 and chemical fertilizer T4, in each treatment 50 replicates were planted. The measurements included wet and dry weight for shoot and root, plant length, and chlorophyll percentage. The study revealed that lettuce's best growth values were obtained with the use of eco-friendly organic fertilizer accompanied by more than control one and chemical fertilizer. The average maximum length of plants after 60 days were recorded in T2 (42.3 cm) > T3 (37.3 cm), T4 (35.9 cm) and > T1 (23.8 cm). The results indicated that compost treated plant (T2 and tea compost T3) had highest chlorophyll content, i.e. 42.3 and 40.6%, respectively, as compared to chemical fertilizers T4 (37.3%) and the lowest chlorophyll content was in control T1 (30.9%). The values for wet shoot and root after 60 days were: 1575.2, 81.5 gm T2 > 1367.6, 64.9 gm T3 > 1251.1, 53.4 gm T4 and 612.1, 43.7 gm T1, respectively. The values for dry shoot and root after 60 days were: 131.5, 8.2 gm, T2 > 112.7, 6.4 gm, T3 > 101.9, 5.3 gm T4 and > 51, 4.1 gm T1, respectively.